Members of the national teams from the United States and Puerto Rico are enjoying their last week of training as they prepare for the USA vs. Puerto Rico Dual, April 26 at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, Pa. The two delegations will arrive in Philadelphia on Wednesday, April 23 for final preparations before taking the ring for their grudge match. The exciting night of action will begin at 7 p.m. with 11 outstanding bouts of action on tap..
Four United States Olympians will take the ring in Philadelphia in one of the final tune-ups prior to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. 2007 World Champion and two-time Olympian Rau’shee Warren (Cincinnati, Ohio) will be competing in his second USA vs. Puerto Rico Dual when he steps through the ropes in Philadelphia. Light flyweight Olympian and 2007 Pan American Games gold medalist Luis Yanez (Duncanville, Texas) is boxing in his second international dual of 2008, and he will take on Puerto Rico’s Bryan Aquino.
Lightweight Olympian and two-time Golden Gloves champion Sadam Ali (Brooklyn, N.Y.) is taking the ring in Philadelphia only six weeks after officially qualifying his Olympic spot at the Americas Qualifier. Ali will enjoy boxing close to home as he faces Puerto Rico’s Daniel Rosario. The final U.S. Olympian to compete in Philadelphia will be light welterweight Javier Molina (Commerce, Calif.). The 2007 National Champion earned his Beijing berth in Trinidad as well and will be stepping through the ropes for the first time since punching his ticket for the Olympics when he battles Puerto Rico’s Luis Gonzalez.
The Puerto Rico rosters boasts two Olympians as well with 2007 World Championships bantamweight bronze medalist McJoe Arroyo and Americas Olympic Qualifier Light Heavyweight champion Carlos Negron highlighting the Puerto Rican roster. Arroyo is scheduled to face 2007 U.S. Championships silver medalist David Clark (San Diego, Calif.) while Negron will battle 2007 National Golden Gloves champion Siju Shabazz (Las Cruces, N.M.).
U.S. Olympic Team Trials flyweight participant Bruno Escalante (Waimanalo, Hawaii); 2008 Featherweight National Champion Robert Rodriguez (Evans, Colo.); 2008 Welterweight National Champion Javontae Starks (Minneapolis, Minn.); 2008 Middleweight National Champion Luis Arias (Milwaukee, Wis.); and Olympic Team Trials super heavyweight runner-up Kimdo Bethel (Albany, N.Y.) will round out the United States roster.
On the opposing side, flyweight Carlos Ortiz; flyweight Jonathan Gonzalez; featherweight Jorge Maysonet; welterweight Ricardo Reyes; middleweight Enrique Collazo; and super heavyweight Juan Jacob will take the ring for Puerto Rico.
The United States team is currently taking part in a preparatory training camp at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. 2008 Olympic Coaches Willy Price (Peshtigo, Wis.) and Robert “Herb” Martin (Washington, D.C.) will join 2004 Olympic Coach Anthony Bradley (Clayton, N.C.) in leading the team in Philadelphia.
The USA vs. Puerto Rico Dual is taking place only months prior to the Olympic Games for the second straight quad with the two nations facing off in two events in May of 2004.
Tickets for the USA vs. Puerto Rico Dual range from $17 to $67 for Golden Circle seating, and can be purchased through the Liacouras Center. Discounts are available for groups of 15 or more as well as Temple University students, faculty and employees.
For a media credential for the USA vs. Puerto Rico Dual, contact Julie Goldsticker, Director of Media and Public Relations for USA Boxing via email at jgoldsticker@usaboxing.org or by phone at (719) 866-2304.
USA vs. Puerto Rosters
Team USA
106 lbs: Luis Yanez, Duncanville, Texas*
112 lbs: Rau’shee Warren, Cincinnati, Ohio*
112 lbs: Bruno Escalante, Waimanlo, Hawaii
119 lbs: David Clark, San Diego, Calif.
125 lbs: Robert Rodriguez, Evans, Colo.
132 lbs: Sadam Ali, Brooklyn, N.Y.*
141 lbs: Javier Molina, Commerce, Calif.*
152 lbs: Javontae Starks, Minneapolis, Minn.
165 lbs: Luis Arias, Milwaukee, Wis.
178 lbs: Siju Shabazz, Las Cruces, N.M.
201+ lbs: Kimdo Bethel, Albany, N.Y.
Team Puerto Rico
106 lbs: Bryan Aquino
112 lbs: Jonathan Gonzalez
112 lbs: Carlos Ortiz
119 lbs: McJoe Arroyo*
125 lbs: Jorge Maysonet
132 lbs: Daniel Rosario
141 lbs: Luis Gonzalez
152 lbs: Ricardo Reyes
165 lbs: Enrique Collazo
178 lbs: Carlos Negron*
201+ lbs: Juan Jacob
*2008 Olympian